Category: article

This article will cover how to record iPhone calls. Maybe that’s not a task we plan to do every day, but eventually the day comes that we just wish we’re able to record that one call for future reference.

When it comes to recording calls in your iPhone you have two options:

Use an App in your phone

Use an external recorder

Ofcourse at first sight the App approach seem the obvious choice, however due to Apple’s restrictions on call recording. There’s no perfect app to do the job. Here’s an overview of the most popular apps, as well as their pros/cons:

How to Record iPhone Calls

Software options:

The main advantage of the software options is that you don’t need to carry extra gear. The down side of the software option, I’ve been told is the reliability: sometimes it just doesn’t work when you need.

Google Voice: requires you to create a Google phone number (free). Works with domestic (US) calls only and can only record inbound calls. It provides a recorded announcement when you start recording, so the other party know call is being recorded. I’d say this is the best software option for call recording. Just be sure to understand the limitations listed above.

WeTalk: the advantage of this apps over Google Voice is that it allows you to record outgoing calls. However this is not a free app. You pay per phone call. Below is their price list. It’s important to understand a bit how this app works. With this app your calls will be routed through that company’s servers, so that they can store your call and then send it to you. I personally don’t really like that approach. I’d rather not have my calls routed through a company I know little about them and they security measures about some one breaching their system and stealing my data. Link: App download / Company website

Hardware options:

Hardware adapters is general have the advantage that it can record both incoming and outgoing calls, and also that the recordings are stored locally and not in the cloud. So if data security is a concern for you, you must seriously consider this a hardware method.

Olympus TP-7: you put this device in your ear and connect its output to a voice recorder. The device has two built-in mics. One to pick up your voice and the other in the other to pick up the other party’s voice. This seem to be an easy to use device, but I wonder if it would pick up any noise when it rubs against the phone during a call. Another potential disadvantage of this device is that it only records in mono, that is both your voice and the other party’s voice is in the same channel. This makes post processing (to clear up the call) harder. This device can be purchased in Amazon for $59.95

RECAP audio adapters: are similar to the Olympus device in the sense that it outputs the audio to a Digital Voice Recorder. RECAP has a few advantages: it goes inline between the headset and the phone, so it picks up the audio signal directly instead of picking it up over the air as in the Olympus. Another advantage is that the RECAP model S2 records in stereo. One channel for your voice and the other for the other party’s voice. Another fact, is that RECAP is also available in the model C, which let you record the call into device with a combo port, such as iPhone and iPad.

RECAP C

That wraps up my quick article on how to record iPhone calls. I listed both software and hardware options so you can choose which is most appropriate for you. Also, even though I’m the creator of the RECAP devices, I did my best to be impartial and direct in my analysis! Thanks for reading!

This article is about using the RECAP audio adapter to record Skype calls.

Quick intro: RECAP is a small gadget for Android and iPhone. It plugs in the phone audio jack and captures both sides of the phone call. It then output that signal for a second device (destination device) to pick up.

The diagrams below give a good illustration of what RECAP is all about.

As you can see, there are two models of RECAP available: Model S and model C.

Model S: was designed to capture the phone audio and output for recording into a PC computer, Digital Voice Recorder and other devices that have a standard stereo microphone input (MIC IN). Remember: S = Stereo

Model C: was designed to capture the phone audio and output for recording into mobile phones and tablets, either iOS or Android devices, and any device with a AHJ combo port. Remember: C = Combo

Record Skype Calls with Digital Voice Recorder

The diagram to the right illustrates that RECAP can be used to record skype calls into a digital voice recorder.

Recording into a digital voice recorder often times the preference of reporters and journalists that interview subjects and then need fine control of playing back the recorded audio for transcription or sending to a colleague.

The digital voice recorder must have a stereo microphone input. Check the device manual to ensure it has one. Most recorders do.

Record Skype Calls with Audacity

Another advantage of using RECAP to record Skype calls is that it allows you to record the phone call into your favorite computer application, such as Audacity.

Audacity is a powerful audio recording and editing tool. Audacity is available for download for free at: audacity.org.

An advantage of audacity is that it allow you to manipulate the audio recording in several ways, such as removing background noise, and amplifying portions of the phone call where the volume was too low. In summary, Audacity provides fine control over your recordings.

Record iPhone Calls

RECAP is a versatile device. It let you record Skype calls, regular phone calls, in fact any audio in and out of your phone. So RECAP is the best tool to record iPhone calls, since it works with any call software: Facetime or any other Voip calling app.

Alternatives to Skype call recording

RECAP is ideal for Skype call recordings involving a mobile device, phone or tablet. If your recording is in a PC computer or MAC you may want to check out these alternative method in the articles below:

Professionals, such as reporters and lawyers, who often times need to record cell phone interviews into their digital voice recorders now have a small and lightweight tool to help them in this task.

The RECAP S2 audio adapter is small device that plugs into iPhone and Android and captures the audio of a phone call, either inbound or outbound calls, so that their digital voice recorder can store those conversation.

Record Phone calls & more…

Since RECAP is a hardware adapter, it is not limited only to phone calls. It can capture Skype calls, FaceTime and any other call app you use in your smartphone. In fact, RECAP captures any audio that passes through the audio jack. Best of all: no apps recording apps required in your phone!

So how to record phone calls with digital voice recorder using RECAP?

It’s simple! Just connect RECAP as indicated in the image above. Plug your headset into RECAP, then the audio cord from RECAP’s output into the Voice Recorder (VR) microphone input. The plug RECAP in the phone audio jack.

Now you place the phone call and in your voice recorder you hit the “record” button. During the phone call you speak normally using your headset.

Configuring the Voice Recorder

Only Voice Recorders with a stereo microphone input will work with RECAP. Please check the voice recorder’s user manual to ensure it record in stereo. Note that some models can be configured between a monaural and stereo modes, so make sure you have it configured as stereo microphone before using with RECAP.

Advantage of Stereo Recording

It’s handy that RECAP grabs the audio of a phone call in stereo. The left channel captures the sound you hear in the speakers, that is the audio coming from the party being interviewed. In the right channel it records your voice, picked up by your headset’s microphone.

Having separate channels for each party facilitate the audio post processing. It’s very convenient to have separate channels for your voice and the other party’s voice, because after recording takes place one would typically perform some audio processing to remove background noise picked up during the call and / or to amplify the speaker’s voice.

Summary

RECAP is a simple and useful tool for mobile journalists, reporters, lawyers, consultants and other professionals who wish to record interviews, client calls into their digital voice recorders.

I hope this article show RECAP is a great tool for professionals who are looking for audio equipment to record and broadcast phone interviews.

So you want to learn how to record cell phone calls on a computer! You’re not alone. I did some search on the web and there are lots of people looking for that same answer.

The simple and free method is the speakerphone method, where just use your cell phone’s speakerphone setting and place a sound recording device next to the speaker. It’s the easiest way to record a cell phone conversation and will probably cost you nothing. Of course, the recording quality of this method is terrible. You’ll get a lot of noise from your surrounding. So let’s look into better options.

James Geeo a few months back asked the question “How can I record cell phone conversations?” on Engadget’s website. He wanted to record calls into his Sprint phone and was having a hard time finding hardware options to do so. One of the answers he got required him to use a mixing table. That tells you that a simple question may not have a simple answer…

Record cell phone calls on computer

You need a special audio adapter to let you record a cell phone call into a computer. The device is called the RECAP. What RECAP does is to intercept the audio signals seen at the headset and convert them to the level that a PC or Voice Recorder can detect the sound. In essence, RECAP works like a signal splitter. Of course, it just not simply split the wires – that wouldn’t work. Instead, RECAP has the circuitry to adjust the signals to correct levels.

Technical details aside, below is a quick snapshot showing how to connect up this handy audio adapter.

As seen in the picture, the connection is pretty straightforward: you plug in your headset into RECAP, then plug it in the phone’s audio jack. Then attached the connection cord from RECAP output to the PC MIC port.

If you don’t want to you the PC, you can also use it with a Voice Recorder and MAC, as long as those devices have a stereo MIC input port.

No special app required on the phone. Actually, that is one big advantage of this adapter. No need to pay for 3 way call apps which require subscription plans. RECAP is hardware and you own it outright!

In your computer should run the software to record the call. Windows ships with Sound Recorder or you can download a more powerful audio software such as Audacity. Best of it all, Audacity is free.